Vic seeks more education talks with feds

VICTORIA is still holding out for a "significant" improvement from the Rudd government on its schools funding offer.

Premier Denis Napthine says Victoria has offered Canberra a very attractive deal and is prepared to continue negotiations.

Victoria has offered an extra $3.5 billion in school funding in exchange the commonwealth doubling its current offer to $7 billion and changes to legislation that would protect parts of the Victorian school system. Non-government schools would receive $630 million under the original offer.

"We certainly believe if we get that sort of deal, that'll be the best for Victorian education," he told Gold 104.3FM.

"But we need some significant movement from the federal government to come across to the high jump bar that we've set."

Dr Napthine said there had been some positive discussion last Friday when Education Minister Martin Dixon met his new federal counterpart Bill Shorten.

"We'll be looking for further discussions this week," Dr Napthine told Gold 104.3FM.

NSW, South Australia and the ACT signed up to the new funding model by the June 30 deadline set by former prime minister Julia Gillard. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd extended the deadline by a fortnight.

The Gonski reforms, now known as the National Plan for School Improvement, offer $14.5 billion for public and private schools over six years from 2014.